Method and apparatus for facilitating simultaneous modifications to financial-data by multiple users

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates simultaneous modifications to financial-data by a first user and a second user. During operation, the system creates a copy of a financial-data file. The system then allows the first user to modify the financial-data file. The system also sends the copy of the financial-data file to the second user, thereby enabling the second user to modify the financial-data file to create a change file. Next, the system receives the change file from the second user, wherein the change file includes modifications to financial-data within the financial-data file. Finally, the system merges the change file into the financial-data file.

1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating simultaneous modifications to financial-data by a first user and a second user, wherein the computer includes a processor, the computer includes a processor, the method comprising:
 creating a copy of a financial-data file, wherein the financial-data file comprises transaction data with one or more fields and corresponding values; 
 partitioning the financial-data file into two independently modifiable subsets based on the one or more field, thereby facilitating simultaneous modifications to the financial-data by the first user and the second user, wherein partitioning the financial-data file into two independently modifiable subset involves; 
 receiving a division-date from the first user, wherein the division-date divides the financial-data into two subsets, wherein one subset is editable by the first user, and the other subset is editable by the second user; 
 copying the financial-data file to the copy of the financial-data file; 
 locking all financial-data in the financial-data file associated with a date which is prior to or equal to the division-date, so that the financial-data in the financial-data file associated with the date which is prior to or equal to the division-date is un-editable by the first user; and 
 locking all financial-data in the copy of the financial-data file associated with a date which is later than the division-date, so that the financial-data in the copy of the financial-data file associated with the date which is later than the division-date is un-editable by the second user; 
 allowing the first user to modify the financial-data file; 
 sending the copy of the financial-data file to the second user, thereby enabling the second user to modify the financial-data file to create a change file; 
 receiving the change file from the second user, wherein the change file includes modifications to financial-data within the financial-data file; and 
 merging the change file into the financial-data file. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein allowing the first user to modify the financial-data file involves:
 determining if financial-data to be modified is associated with a date which is later than the division-date; 
 if so, permitting the financial-data file to be modified; and 
 if not, preventing the financial-data file from being modified. 
 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein merging the change file into the financial-data file involves:
 displaying the change file to the first user; 
 receiving confirmation of the change file from the first user; and 
 in response to the confirmation:
 creating a backup of the financial-data file, and 
 modifying the financial-data file based on the change file. 
 
 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein displaying the change file to the first user involves:
 determining if merging the change file into the financial-data file will cause a conflict with existing financial-data associated with the financial-data file; if so, resolving the conflict; and 
 displaying the change file and an indicator that identifies the conflict to the first user. 
 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the modifications to the financial-data can include:
 an addition to the financial-data; 
 a deletion of the financial-data; and 
 a modification of the financial-data. 
 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein merging the change file into the financial-data file can involve merging a sub-section of the change file into the financial-data file. 
   
   
     7. The method the method of  claim 1 , wherein prior to sending the copy of the financial-data file to the second user, the method further comprises compressing the copy of the financial-data file. 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the copy of the financial-data file is a sub-set of the financial-data file. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first user is a client and the second user is an accountant. 
   
   
     10. A computer-readable storage medium storing instruction that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for facilitating simultaneous modifications to financial-data by a first user and a second user, the method comprising:
 creating a copy of a financial-data file, wherein the financial-data file comprises transaction data with one or more fields and corresponding values; 
 
     partitioning the financial-data file into two independently modifiable subsets based on the one or more fields, thereby facilitating simultaneous modifications to the financial-data by the first user and the second user, wherein partitioning the financial-data file into two independently modifiable subset involves:
 receiving a division-date from the first user, wherein the division-date divides the financial-data into two subsets, wherein one subset is editable by the first user, and the other subset is editable by the second user; 
 copying the financial-data file to the copy of the financial-data file; 
 locking all financial-data in the financial-data file associated with a date which is prior to or equal to the division-date, so that the financial-data in the financial-data file associated with the date which is prior to or equal to the division-date is un-editable by the first user; and 
 locking all financial-data in the copy of the financial-data file associated with a date which is later than the division-date, so that the financial-data in the copy of the financial-data file associated with the date which is later than the division-date is un-editable by the second user; 
 allowing the first user to modify the financial-data file; 
 sending the copy of the financial-data file to the second user, thereby enabling the second user to modify the financial-data file to create a change file; 
 receiving the change file from the second user, wherein the change file includes modifications to financial-data within the financial-data file; and 
 merging the change file into the financial-data file. 
 
   
   
     11. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein allowing the first user to modify the financial-data file involves:
 determining if financial-data to be modified is associated with a date which is later than the division-date; 
 if so, permitting the financial-data file to be modified; and 
 if not, preventing the financial-data file from being modified. 
 
   
   
     12. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein merging the change file into the financial-data file involves:
 displaying the change file to the first user; 
 receiving confirmation of the change file from the first user; and 
 in response to the confirmation:
 creating a backup of the financial-data file, and 
 modifying the financial-data file based on the change file. 
 
 
   
   
     13. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein displaying the change file to the first user involves:
 determining if merging the change file into the financial-data file will cause a conflict with existing financial-data associated with the financial-data file; 
 if so, resolving the conflict; and 
 displaying the change file and an indicator that identifies the conflict to the first user. 
 
   
   
     14. The compurer readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the modifications to the financial-data can include:
 an addition to the financial-data; 
 a deletion of the financial-data; and 
 a modification of the financial-data. 
 
   
   
     15. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein merging the change file into the financial-data file can involve merging a sub-section of the change file into the financial-data file. 
   
   
     16. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein prior to sending the copy of the financial-data file to the second user, the method further comprises compressing the copy of the financial-data file. 
   
   
     17. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the copy of the financial-data file is a sub-set of the financial-data file. 
   
   
     18. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the first user is a client and the second user is an accountant. 
   
   
     19. An apparatus that facilitates simultaneously modifications to financial-data by a first user and a second user, comprising:
 a processor; 
 a creation mechanism configured to create a copy of a financial-data file, wherein the financial-data file comprises transaction data with one or more field and corresponding values; 
 a partitioning mechanism configured to partition the financial-data file into two independently subsets based on the one or more fields, thereby facilitating simultaneous modifications to the financial-data by the first user and the second user, wherein partitioning the financial-data file into two independently modifiable subset involves: 
 receiving a division-date from the first user, wherein the division-date divides the financial-data into two subsets, wherein one subset is editable by the first user, and the other subset is editable by the second user; 
 copying the financial-data file to the copy of the financial-data file; 
 locking all financial-data in the financial-data file associated with a date which is prior to or equal to the division-date, so that the financial-data in the financial-data file associated with the date which is prior to or equal to the division-date is un-editable by the first user; and 
 locking all financial-data in the copy of the financial-data file associated with a date which is later than the division-date, so that the financial-data in the copy of the financial-data file associated with the date which is later than the division-date is un-editable by the second user; 
 a modification mechanism configured to allow the first user to modify the financial-data file; 
 a sending mechanism configured to send the copy of the financial-data file to the second user, thereby enabling the second user to modify the financial-data file to create a change file; 
 a receiving mechanism configured to receive the change file from the second user, wherein the change file includes modifications to financial-data within the financial-data file; and 
 a merging mechanism configured to merge the change file into the financial-data file. 
 
   
   
     20. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein while allowing the first user to modify the financial-data file the modification mechanism is further configured: to
 determine if financial-data to be modified is associated with a date which is later than the division-date; and 
 if so, permit the financial-data file to be modified; and 
 if not, prevent the financial-data file from being modified. 
 
   
   
     21. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the merging mechanism is further configured to:
 displaying the change file to the first user; 
 receiving confirmation of the change file from the first user; 
 creating a backup of the financial-data file, and 
 modifying the financial-data file based on the change file. 
 
   
   
     22. The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein while displaying the change file to the first user the merging mechanism is further configured to:
 determine if merging the change file into the financial-data file will cause a conflict with existing financial-data associated with the financial-data file; 
 if so, resolve the conflict; and 
 display the change file and an indicator that identifies the conflict to the first user. 
 
   
   
     23. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the merging mechanism is further configured to merge a sub-section of the change file into the financial-data file. 
   
   
     24. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein prior to sending the copy of the financial-data file to the second user, the sending mechanism is further configured to compress the copy of the financial-data file.